A Brazilian prosecutor said that the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation "gave Brazil the tip that led to arrests this week of 11 suspected militants who had discussed a possible attack on the upcoming Olympics in Rio de Janeiro."
In comments to several Brazilian newspapers published Saturday, Rafael Brum Miron, the federal prosecutor handling the case in the southern state of Parana, said the FBI "had provided a brief report in which it identified at least six people it suspected as potential militants." He said, "The information came from the FBI. They sent a succinct report: These people merit investigating." A spokesperson for the FBI in Washington "declined to comment" (REUTERS, 7/23).
HIGH DEMAND: In spite of rising security concerns, Rio 2016 Olympics organizers said late Thursday that they "managed to sell 100,000 tickets for the upcoming games in less than five hours." A last batch of 100,000 new tickets for the event, which starts in two weeks, "was put up for sale on Thursday." Organizers "didn't specify if the tickets sold Thursday were all part of the new batch or if demand included tickets already in stock" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/21).
THE SOUND OF WINNING: Olympic organizers "will bring typical Brazilian informality" to the medal ceremonies at Rio 2016 with three different kinds of podium music depending on whether the sports "are considered classical, pop or cool."
The 45-second bursts of music "will be played as winners mount the podium to receive their medals." Christy Nicolay, exec producer of sport presentations, said that winners in sports such as fencing and equestrian "will hear a more traditional sound, while funkier tunes will play for those triumphing in newer and younger sports such as BMX biking and beach volleyball." Nicolay added that a more pop sound "would be played for sports such as basketball" (REUTERS, 7/23).
GETTING CAUGHT: Doping retests "have found banned substances in 45 athletes from the Beijing and London Olympic Games."
The IOC said that of the 30 in Beijing, 23 were medalists.
The reanalysis of the tests "are part of the IOC's efforts to keep dopers away from the Olympic Games Rio 2016." The IOC said, "All athletes found to have infringed the anti-doping rules will be banned from competing at the Olympic Games Rio 2016" (ITV, 7/24).
